Shooting camp a success in Bethel Park

More than 80 boys and girls basketball players from the South Hills participated in the Dave Roman Shooting Camp held recently at Hillcrest Christian Academy in Bethel Park.

Bethel Park Recreation and Bethel Park Metro Basketball sponsored the week-long camp, attended by boys and girls in grades 3 through 11. They learned the fundamentals of shooting whether from 3-point range or the free-throw line.

“Dave Roman provided expertise and taught the fundamentals of shooting in an informative, entertaining and educational manner,” said Chuck Stover, Bethel Park Municipal Recreation Director. “Based on the improvement the young athletes displayed over the week and the smiles on their faces, I’d have to say the camps were a resounding success.”

A number of campers garnered awards in various categories. Recipients included:

“This group of Bethel Park campers displayed a great work ethic and the players were very attentive,” said Roman, a former point guard for the University of Pittsburgh. “The improvement shown by the players from the first day until the final day was outstanding.”

Roman began his camps 25 years ago in his hometown of Johnstown, Pa. His goal continues to be helping kids learn the correct shooting fundamentals.

Nicknamed the “Shot Doctor,” Roman scored 1,446 points in only 1.5 seasons at Johnstown College-University of Pittsburgh (now Pitt-Johnstown). He holds the single-season record of 954 points. He also set a national junior college single-game record with 54 points against DuBois Center-Penn State on Feb. 3, 1962.

His exploits at Johnstown’s branch campus earned Roman a scholarship to Pittsburgh’s main campus, where he led the 1962-63 Panthers with 359 points, and his two-year scoring average was 12.6 points a game.

After his playing career concluded, Roman entered the coaching ranks and began teaching kids.

In 1998, Roman won a national championship and set an all-time record by making 24-of-25 3-point attempts and 75-of-75 free throw attempts at the International Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Western Chapter, Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame and Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame.